We agree with many of the changes recommended in the report, including -- but not limited to -- the use of student enrollment in the Free and Reduced Price Lunch program to identify how many high-need students there are in each district. This specific change, if implemented, can help the state more accurately direct resources according to districts' and students' needs.

However, we are disappointed that the task force failed to address many of the key flaws in the current funding formula that must be fixed to ensure all Connecticut children have access to a quality public education.

For example, the report fails to resolve the disparity in funding between public schools of choice and traditional public schools. Most notably, our state's public charter schools -- which are delivering strong results for students and are a key part of our statewide efforts to close the achievement gap -- continue to receive lower levels of state funding.

If we're serious about closing our state's worst-in-the-nation achievement gap, we must move toward a true student-based solution that fairly funds both traditional and charter school students.

We must continue to pursue a complete overhaul of the formula -- not the tinkering that hasn't worked in the past -- if we are going to develop a long-term solution that will ensure that every child in Connecticut has access to the world-class education they deserve.